Shedding Light on the Nighttime Driving Risk: An Analysis of Fatal Crashes Under Dark Conditions in the U.S., 1999-2008
Author(s):
R.H. Henk, V.J. Pezoldt, B.R. Fette
Publication Date:
May 2010
Abstract:
Researchers from the Texas Transportation Institute recently examined nighttime fatal crash trends over the past decade. The analysis showed that the proportion of drivers involved in nighttime fatal crashes nationwide has increased steadily from 1999 to 2008, even as the overall fatality rate and the total number of fatalities have generally declined nationwide. Findings suggest that alcohol contributes to an increase in nighttime fatal crashes involving drivers age 20 and older. However, this is not true for teenage drivers, suggesting that factors other than alcohol "such as talking or texting on cell phones" are responsible for the trend of increased nighttime crashes for teens. The nighttime risk is the most common one faced by novice drivers, yet only 3 percent of teenagers are aware of the dangers presented by driving at night. Consequently, greater awareness and understanding of the nighttime driving danger are needed, not only among teenage drivers, but also among parents and others who influence those drivers.
Report Number:
TTI-2010-1
Electronic Link(s):
Document/Product
http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-2010-1.pdf
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